If you're just starting out with hand embroidery, one of the first questions you’ll have is: what equipment do I actually need?

The good news is that embroidery for beginners is wonderfully simple. You don’t need a long list of specialist tools or expensive supplies. With just a few basic pieces of embroidery equipment, you can start stitching straight away.

This guide is for you if you’re completely new to embroidery and want a simple, no-fuss way to get started.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essential embroidery supplies for beginners, from choosing the right needles and thread to picking a hoop, fabric and scissors, plus a few practical tips to make your first projects feel easier.

Embroidery needles

You can find needles online, in craft shops, or even in some supermarkets. Look for packs labelled embroidery needles or crewel needles. They have a larger eye than standard sewing needles, which makes them easier to thread when you’re stitching with multiple strands.

Mixed packs, such as size 5–10, are a great place to start. You can try a few sizes and quickly work out what feels most comfortable in your hand. I like to stitch with a size 7 embroidery needle. It’s thin and sharp, but still has a fairly generous eye and isn’t too fiddly to thread.

If threading the needle is the bit that slows you down, this guide on how to thread a needle should help.

What size needle should I use?

As a general rule, the more strands of thread you’re using, the larger the needle eye needs to be. Smaller needles make a smaller hole in the fabric, which can help your stitching look neater, but they can also be trickier to thread.

In this table, size 3 is the biggest needle and size 9 is the smallest. The smaller the needle, the smaller the hole it makes in the fabric, which can help you stitch more accurately.

Below are a few types of embroidery needle you might come across. You can also find a selection of needles in the supplies section of my shop.

Embroidery thread

There are lots of embroidery thread brands to choose from. Three of the most common in the UK are DMC, Anchor and Madeira. All three make high-quality threads in hundreds of colours.

The standard thread most people start with is called six-stranded cotton, often just stranded cotton. It’s ideal for beginners because it’s soft, easy to handle, and you can separate the strands to change the thickness of your stitches.

Most embroidery patterns tell you how many strands to use for each part of the design, for example 2 strands for fine details or 4 to 6 strands for bolder lines. If that part still feels confusing, this guide on how to separate embroidery thread should help.

I use Madeira threads in my kits and thread palettes. They’re beautifully soft and don’t tangle too easily, which makes them a lovely choice when you’re learning.

You can also find specialist threads like metallics, variegated thread and glow-in-the-dark thread. They’re fun once you’ve got the basics down, but stranded cotton is still the best place to start.

Embroidery hoops

Embroidery hoops are inexpensive and make stitching much easier. The most common types are wood, metal and plastic. For most projects, a wooden hoop around 15cm (5in) to 20cm (7in) is a good choice.

Getting your fabric tight in the hoop is one of the most important steps when you learn hand embroidery. I have a full guide to setting up your hoop here.

If you can stretch the fabric so it feels tight like a drum skin, stitching will feel smoother and you’ll be much less likely to end up with wrinkles or puckers in the finished piece.

A couple of extra tips: if you’re left-handed, place the end of the screw on the left. If you’re right-handed, place it on the right. You can also tighten the screw with pliers or a screwdriver if you find it tricky to do with your fingers.

Embroidery fabric

You can embroider onto almost any fabric, but the easiest options to start with are cotton, calico or linen because they aren’t too stretchy.

Your fabric can be plain or patterned. If you’re using an embroidery transfer directly on your fabric, lighter colours tend to work best because the lines show up more clearly. If you’re using stick and stitch patterns instead, you’ve got a bit more flexibility, including darker fabrics.

Good quality quilting fabric is lovely for embroidery. Brands to look out for include Bella Moda Solids, which is what I use in my kits, or Kona cotton. Both come in lots of colours and feel nice to stitch on.

Buying a good pack of fat quarters is also a handy way to build up your fabric stash. It gives you a few options for trying different projects without buying loads of fabric in one go.

Embroidery scissors

A small pair of sharp scissors makes life much easier. You don’t need anything fancy, but you do want a pair that cuts thread cleanly rather than chewing at it.

Embroidery scissors are useful because the pointed tip helps you snip close to the fabric neatly. If you already have a small sharp pair at home, that’s absolutely fine to start with. This is one of those supplies you can upgrade later if you want to.

Needle threaders

A needle threader is definitely optional, but it can be really handy if you find threading the needle fiddly or frustrating. Some stitchers use one every time, while others never bother with them at all.

If you’re just getting started and your eyes or fingers find threading a bit awkward, it can be a useful little extra to keep in your sewing box. That said, a larger-eyed embroidery needle and a short length of thread often solve the problem too.

Common beginner mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Fabric not tight in the hoop - this causes puckering. Always tighten before you start stitching.
• Using thread that’s too long - longer thread tangles more easily. Around 30–40cm is a good starting point.
• Using too many strands - this can make stitching harder than it needs to be. Start with 2 or 3 strands for most beginner projects.
• Pulling stitches too tight - let the thread sit gently on the fabric rather than yanking it down.